KAMPALA, Uganda — BRAC Uganda has launched a new Shs 17.4 billion (USD 5 million) initiative dubbed the “Scaling Graduation in Peri-Urban Areas” Project, aimed at helping ultra-poor families transition from extreme poverty to sustainable livelihoods.
The 27-month project will be implemented across Luuka, Iganga, and Bugiri districts in the Busoga sub-region, one of Uganda’s poorest areas targeting more than 3,300 vulnerable households, particularly those headed by women.
Speaking at the launch, Spera Atuhaire, Country Director of BRAC Uganda, said the initiative is part of BRAC’s long-standing global commitment to fighting poverty through its Ultra-Poor Graduation Model, a tested approach that integrates social protection, livelihood training, financial inclusion, and empowerment.
“We are here to officially launch a 27-month project designed to enable people to graduate out of poverty,” Atuhaire said. “It is based on BRAC’s 52 years of experience in empowering people through mindset change, skills training, and access to assets and finance.”
She noted that Busoga was specifically chosen because it continues to rank among Uganda’s most impoverished regions.
“Busoga still ranks high in poverty levels, and this project leverages our existing programs to ensure that women and their families can rebuild their livelihoods,” she added.
Empowering Women and Families
According to Project Manager Joseph Kabanda, the program will use BRAC’s four-pillar approach that is, social protection, social empowerment, financial inclusion, and livelihood promotion to support ultra-poor households in peri-urban communities and trading centers.
“We are working closely with government officials, including parish chiefs, LC1s, and community development officers, to identify and support the most vulnerable households,” Kabanda said. “Our target areas are peri-urban communities where poverty is often hidden but severe.”
Kabanda added that beneficiaries will receive productive assets, business and financial literacy training, and continuous mentorship to help them establish sustainable income sources.
“By the end of the project, we expect participants who once struggled to afford a daily meal to have food security, stable savings, and multiple productive assets,” he explained.
The project also aims to improve household hygiene and sanitation, strengthen community networks, and link participants to microfinance institutions, including BRAC Bank Uganda, for continued financial support.
Government Endorsement
Representing the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Commissioner Bernard Mujuni, speaking on behalf of Permanent Secretary Aggrey Kibenge, commended BRAC for complementing national efforts to eradicate poverty.
“We appreciate BRAC’s leadership in championing this model that aligns with our national social protection strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals,” Mujuni said. “The project promotes inclusive growth, decent work, and resilience among the most vulnerable.”
He urged development partners to replicate the model nationwide.
“This model deserves to be replicated across the country,” he emphasized. “It not only addresses the immediate needs of ultra-poor households but also builds long-term resilience and self-reliance.”
A Proven Pathway Out of Poverty
BRAC’s Ultra-Poor Graduation approach has been successfully implemented in several countries, including Uganda’s West Nile region, where it supported refugee and host communities. The model combines asset transfers, coaching, and access to financial services to help families permanently escape extreme poverty.
